Antenatal Appointments

Community Midwifery Services can be as involved in your pregnancy and/or birth as you would like.

Many of our clients choose to see a CMS Midwife for Antenatal check-ups throughout their pregnancy either in addition to/or in place of check-ups with their hospital/GP.

If you choose to have a CMS midwife present at your birth it is a lovely thing to have a relationship with her. The comfort of knowing your midwife and the knowledge that she knows you, your baby and your needs, is amazing for maternal confidence going into labour and delivery.

However, not everyone has the luxury of having birth support, so for couples that want to be well prepared and supported for birth and parenting, CMS now offers antenatal and postnatal care, and a birth preparation package. (SHARE AND PREPARE)

Every couple deserves some continuity of care, and this is how you can achieve it.

Your CMS midwife is a registered Medicare provider and can provide you with Medicare Rebatable receipts for these appointments once you have a referral from either an GP/OBS or Obstetrician (if you are having care with a Private OB.)

CMS has a long standing relationship with Dr Jenny Picking - GP/OBS in Langwarrin - she will always see CMS clients and happy to sign your referrals, or give extra medical support and advice.

A standard Antenatal Check-up will involve a check of you and your baby (eg mother's Blood pressure and size of uterus (womb); Baby's heart rate using Doppler and mother's report of movements, assessing baby's position). You will also be guided through and given referrals for the required tests throughout your pregnancy. Your midwife is able to provide you with forms for blood tests, Ultrasounds, Glucose testing and more…

Most importantly your consultations will involve a good chat and plenty of time for your questions or concerns to be discussed.

Routine antenatal visits are recommended at the following gestation (weeks): Check-up Appointments are commonly offered at the following weeks gestation:

Dating ultrasound (8-12 weeks) This will confirm dates, particularly important if your pregnancy is going to be prolonged, up until 42 weeks. Serum Screening for Down syndrome testing: there are now many tests available including the standard maternal serum screening and nuchal fold scan test, harmony and precept tests. Talk to your GP about your options, also information is on line via Dorevitch web page.

Week 12-20

Birth Options /Booking Appointment at 12 weeks: initial consultation when a full history is taken.

Discuss results of serum screening tests and scans.

18-20 week 20 week ultrasound and discuss results. If a low lying placenta is found then a repeat scan at 34 weeks will be required to check position prior to birth.

Many low lying placentae will move up by 34 weeks, but this cannot always be guaranteed.

Birth Plan Meeting - Clients who have had no other care with us can still have a birth plan meeting for support with birth preferences, and birth education, if none are available in your hospital of your choice. The birth plan is medicare rebatable.

40-42 weeks

At 41+3 weeks most hospitals will review both your wellbeing, and that of your baby, by studying baby's heart beat and looking at the volume of water left around the baby. This tells us whether it is safe to let you wait a few more days. ( Placentae do not last forever, so this is just to check how well your baby's placenta is holding up!)

Fetal Monitoring/CTGUltrasoundVaginal Examination ( stretch and sweep) this assesses the softness of your cervix and helps us make a decision as to how to help induce or start your labour at the right time for you.